Betting Insights for the 2026 NBA Finals: Knicks vs. Spurs Showdown
Reggie Miller, a legendary shooter and Hall of Famer, recently made headlines during Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, claiming that the New York Knicks would be favored in the upcoming 2026 NBA Finals. His bold statement drew laughter from his broadcast partner Jamal Crawford, who humorously questioned Miller's judgment. As the Finals approach, the San Antonio Spurs have emerged as -190 favorites at FanDuel, while the Knicks sit at +160 as underdogs. In the race for the NBA Finals MVP, Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs is the -175 favorite, with the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson listed as the +210 second choice. Larry Hartstein, a SportsLine expert with a strong track record, has identified three key betting plays for the series, focusing on value over straightforward predictions: Over 5.5 Games (-170) and Spurs to win series 4-3 (+380): Hartstein anticipates a lengthy series, as five of the last seven Finals have extended to six games or more. Both teams excelled at home this season, with the Spurs holding a 32-8 record and the Knicks at 30-10. Julian Champagnie to lead series in 3-pointers (+290): Hartstein favors Champagnie over Devin Vassell for this prop bet. Champagnie showed a significant improvement in shooting, going from 19.4% to 50% in the last three games of the Western Conference Finals. His ability to exploit mismatches could give him the edge. Hartstein's analysis underscores the competitive nature of the Finals, with both teams equipped to make it a thrilling series.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-06-02